Update on beaver dam

Mike Sullivan just sent the following email that updates the beaver issue status –

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Update on beaver dam

The status of the beaver dam removal is as follows:
1. Norfolk County Mosquito Control has agreed to assist with the breeching of the dam. They will notch it over several days to lower it gradually. If it were removed all at once it could a create hazard to downstream structures given all the water that is impounded.

2, The Board of Health Agent, William Domey has signed off on a preliminary permit to breech the dam. He would not, however, approve trapping of the beavers, so that has to be put on hold for the present.

3. I have spoken to the Conservation Commission Agent and left her a copy of the Board of Health permit. The Conservation Commission has to sign off on the breeching of the dam. She will take care of that on Tuesday, when she returns to work.

4 When the Conservation Commission has signed off I have to attach a copy of that sign off to the Board of Health preliminary permit and return it to the Board of Heatlh Agent for issuance of the final permit.

5. Norfolk County Mosquito will be available to start breeching the dam as soon as the Board of Health final permit is issued. The Medfield DPW will be available to assist, as necessary.

6. I have notified the licensed emergency beaver trapper that we will not be able to utilize his services at the present time. As of November,1, the start of the normal beaver trapping season, he will be available to trap beavers, without approval of the Board of Health. If the problem persists, in the meantime, we’ll just have to start the process all over again.
7. No one ever said it would be easy! Have a good weekend.
Mike Sullivan

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2 responses to “Update on beaver dam”

It’s ironic that taking out the beaver dam will probably increase mosquitoes at this site, according to a scientific study (Butts 1992*). This research, done in the Northeast, showed a dramatic decline in the pesky insects after beavers build a dam. Mosquitoes’ predators, such as dragonflies, need a large pond to survive, whereas mosquitoes can breed in puddles. Also, the mosquito species, Aedes, that is most associated with West Nile Virus and yellow-fever cannot survive in the permanent water of a beaver pond.

I leave on Stagecoach adjacent to the wetlands. I’ve noticed a dramatic decrease in mosquitoes and a dramatic increase in dragonflies.

I was talking to a neighbor who said someone from the health department said a different variety of mosquitoes will eventually inhabit the deeper water. I’d like to know more about that but I don’t know the name of the species so i don’t know what to research.

Osler ”Pete” Peterson

Medfield Selectman

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